'500-year cycle': ODOT report finds road quality declining, only going to get worse

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The quality of Oregon's highways is steadily decreasing, according to a report by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

ODOT's 2024 Pavement Condition Report, which was released in February, showcases the decline of quality across the state and while the report says 87% percent of Oregon's 18,000 miles of pavement are considered in "fair or better condition," the number is slipping with the lowest number of "good" condition roads since 2001.

According to ODOT, over the last decade, the overall quality of the roads has decreased and without maintenance, many of the higher quality roads are also at risk of deteriorating into poor condition within only a few years.

The agency said that asphalt roads typically last from 10 to 30 years, and concrete roads typically last from 40 to 60 years.

Currently, ODOT said they have been maintaining a 25-year paving cycle; however, by 2030, they said that could increase to a "500-year" cycle due to revenue issues.

“ODOT’s structural revenue issue is forcing the agency to dramatically pull back on our pavement maintenance and preservation efforts,” said Delivery and Operations Administrator Amy Ramsdale. “Without additional revenue or revenue reform, the quality of Oregon’s highways will significantly decline in just a few years.”

The agency said their funding is being impacted by the changing times, and they specify three key areas that are affecting how much money they can spend on repairing roads.

As more Oregonians are switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles or electric vehicles, ODOT said they are making less money from the state's gas tax, significantly lowering the money available to maintain roads. ODOT also cites increased inflation as well as a massive limit on how much funding can actually go to highway maintenance.

With current funding, ODOT said they have enough to last until the middle of 2025, but then Oregon's transportation systems will start to see a massive decline, leading to that 500-year paving cycle.

As early as 2027, the agency said that Oregon's non-interstate routes will receive little or no paving.

Just recently, Oregon residents have seen a string of crashes along Highway 26 near the Oregon Coast.

The problem, a sunken grade residents call "The Bump," has been sending cars flying, leading to numerous crashes in the area.